We all modify our bikes (all bikes) 'cause no manufactor got a single model just right :D

Errrrr.....maybe you can just ask him why he removed them,......if you asked him to build you a good lightweight adventure bike maybe he has done just that.....

Yes he does, Dave's bikes/engines don't chew up the gearboxes...nor do they overheat...

Fair play to him then.

How are those modifications related to not chewing up gearboxes and not overheating?

...one of the ones that didn't overheat did chew up gearboxes...interesting to see how long gearbox on mine lasts this time around,done about 6000 miles on fresh ingredients so far,I do have another oil pump to put in when I get 5 minutes spare..
I'm a little dense but I'd be inclined to guess that running a better/ later type of oil pump may reduce the engine temperatures,and the fact that the oil circulates through a metal tank that gets hot does lose some of the temperature from oil,I can't recall if my 2008 660 had an oil cooler or not..?

Well the engineers from Yamaha did quite a lot of mistakes on the 1VJ. The air intake just over the engine which is 10-15°C more than outside temperature, and the oil cooler is fitted in a bad location. The right fork tube will deviate most of the air from the cooler, making it probably less efficient than on the older 34 tenere.

If you look at the XT600 47N and the TT600, they don't have the oil cooler. So there are good reason to ask yourself if they are really needed, especially if you drive in europe where the temperature is not too high.

I believe than DL knows what he does.